Bucket



Au 7, 1923. j 11,464,454

. L. THOMPSON BUCKET Filed March" 31. 1920 s Sheets-Sheet l avwew foz '10 WLT'HOM PSON) attmmu;

"N. L. THOMPSON BUCKET Filed March 51, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 WITNESSES v INVENTOR MTHOMP56M Arm/mus Patented Aug. 7, 1923.

lAMAM T FF i Q 151 BUCKET.

Application filed March 31, 1920. Serial No. 370,202.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Lovn THoMrsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Greenville, in the county of Washington and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckets, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to buckets employed for earth-working purposes and more particularly to the dragline buckets especially adapted for transporting earth for short distances.

Heretofore in the art, buckets that have been proposed for general work have com prised essentially a substantially imperforate and relatively rigid bottom, back, and sides, the bottom ending in front in a cut ting bit rigid with respect to the entire bucket and the usual drag and hoist-line equipment for imparting cutting and dump ing movements, respectively. But the construction of this conventional type has made it necessary to actually lift the bucket and tilt the forward end thereof downwardly, in order to discharge the contents. Such features restrict the-range of utility of the bucket and make it inapt for certain earth working operations, such, for instance, as back fillingwhich is extensively employed in sewer-trench or road-grade work. For this character of work a scraper bucket has been proposed which consists simply of a scraper plate, corresponding to the back of the other type of bucket, having the lower edge formed to contitute a cutting bit and a skeleton frame upon which the plate is mounted, the frame being usually in the form of a front bar and a pair of forwardly converging side bars connected with the front bar and arranged one pair on each side of the plate. The disadvantages of this latter type resides mainly in the fact that it is not controllable as to load-' ing and even when loaded does not effectively retain the material and convey it to the desired point. p

One of the principal objects of this in vention is to provide a bucket having universal capabilities so as to be readily and easily adapted to efficiently carry out any of the various earth-working operations, though particularly capable for use as a scraper bucket.

Another object is to provide a bucket of this character which when used'as a scraper bucket will not only be under the complete and positive control of the op erator but which will also serve to effectively and efficiently accumulate the material in the bucket and retain the same therein while it is being conveyed to the desired points.

Another object is to provide a bucket of this character of simple and durable construction, reliable-in operation and comparatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages reside in the certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which- Figure 1' isa perspective view illustrating my bucket operatively associated with a preferred type of machine;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the bucket;

Figure 3 isa plan view of the same;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail the back plate;

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the oscillating frame and associated structure;

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the complementary back and side plates for increasing-the capacity of the bucket;

Figure 8'is a detail view in sideelevation showing the position of the lower portion of the back plate in intermediateadjusted position;

Figure 9 is a detail view showing the back plate in forwardly adjusted position Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of the bottom plate for converting the bucket into one adapted for general work;

Figure 11 is a detail View of the stop bolt.

Referring to the drawing, and especially to Figure 1, the invention is shown associated with the preferred type of machine which is of conventional construction and preferably embodies a caterpillar tractor A upon which is mounted a power plant B, and winding drums C driven from the power plant through suitable gearing. A

perspective view of from one of the winding drums outwardly over suitable pulleys carried by the boom, and depends from the outer extremity of the boom to be attached to the bucket, indicated generally at G. The drag line H is connected to the bucket and extends from the bucket to one ofthe windingdrumsot the machine, but is only slightly upwardly inclined with respect to the horizontal in its travel from the-bucket to the winding drum. i

. The bucketwhen adapted for use' as a scraper-bucket comprises a bucket body, or body portion, consisting of a pair of side plates 10 and 11, each of which are preferably in the. form of a sector extending on anarc of approximately 135 of acircle, The side plates are disposed in parallel relation'with respect to each other and bear a vertical relation with respect to the ground in operative position. The plates are main-: tained in position by a plurality of cross bars indicated respectively at 12, 13, 1%, and 15, each of which have theirends bent at right angles and secured respectively to the outside of the plates 10 and 11 by means of rivets or suitable fastening means 16, The lowercross bar 12 is disposed on the upwardly extending radial edge of the side plate adj acent the inters-ectionof: the radial edges, the upper cross bar 13 is disposed on the arcuate edge ofthe side plates adjacent the intersection of the arcuate edge and the upwardly extending radial: edge and the upper cross bars 14 and 15 are disposed on the arcuate edge of the side plate, being spaced from each other and the ends of the arcuate edges, all as shown in the drawings. The intersection of the lower radial edge and the arcuate edge are rounded 01f, as shown in Figure 4. Y J

The back plate 17, preferably'of rectangular form, is adapted to be secured to'the side plates in any of a plurality of desired positions. The upper end of the back plate is bent inwardly at right angles, as at 18, the inwardly extending end normally resting upon the crossbar 13 and being secured thereto by bolts and nuts 19 or other releasable fastening means. Thelower portion of the back plate is disposed between the side plates, forwardly of the cross bar 12 and normally rests snugly against this cross bar. Thelowermost portion of the back plate is formed to constitute a cuttingedge 20. If desired this cutting edge may be supplemented by a plurality of digging teeth 21 secured to the front face of the back plate. The back plate is adapted to have its upper $1. 61 18 r leased engagement wi h A rectangular frame, designated generally .at .22 is pivoted for oscillating movement adjacent its front end to the side plates 10 and 11, adj acentthe intersection of the arcuate and longitudinally extending radial edges of the plates, as shown at 23. p

, lteferringespecially to Figure 6, it will be seen that the frame consists ofside bars 2st, a cutting bit 25 which constitutes a front bar and a; rear bar 26. Each of the side bars have their ends both at the front and the rear extended, beyond the front and rear bars, respectively. Two apertures 27 are provided in ,the rear extension to receive the hoist line bail chain connections 28. The front. extensions of the side bars are. enlarged, as shown in the drawing, to provide a heavy and substantial structure. Theout er extremities of these enlarged portions areupwardly extendedand apertured as at 30 to receive the bail chain connections 31of the dragline; The enlarged portions of the frame extensions 29. arewell adapted'to bear the maximum strain of digging, and the other strains of handling the bucket, which are, in the main, exerted upon them through the drag line also serve to, guide the material in the body of the bucket which is comprised by the space between the side plates and the back plate. v I

The cutting bit 25 is of general triangular cross section, the base of the triangle, how

ever, being slightlycurved, as shown inithe drawing. The cutting bit serves first to cut the material free that is to be accumulated in the bucket and secondly it cutsto, shape a suitable road bed in which the bottomless bucket trails, and dislodgement of the ma terial from the bucket,due to the irregularities of contour ofthe road beds over which it travels, is thereby effectively precluded. This latter action of thecutting bit is attained largely by the correlation between the cross section of the cut'made by the bit and.

the design of the bottom, of the lower edge of the sides and the back of the bucket, and, in the present instance, as the latter are fiat the cutting bit edge is given straight-line form to obtain the desired cross section of cut.

lteferring to Figures 2 and 4 it will be seen that the pivotal connection 23 of the frame 22 to the-bucket serves also as a fulcrum-for the side bars or levers 24:, and. the arrz-ingeme-nt is such that theforward portious of the side bars which carry the cut-- ting bit :25 and the drag line connections 31 constitute a relatively short lever arm, indicated 32, and therearward portionv of the side bars Which. carry the hoist line tions 28 constitute a arm indicated at 33.v

The point of connection of the drag line to the front extremities of the oscillating frame is so positioned with respect to the pivot 23 that in any or all of the working positions the line of pull of the drag line produced passes below the pivot While digging the pull on the drag line is considerable, but its leverage distance from is ery short and the resulting moment is balanced by maintaining a very modest strain upon the hoist line, the leverage distance of which from the pivot 23 being very great. By varying the strain on the hoist line, the lever bars 24: may be oscillated as desired about the pivot point 23 and the depth of the cut in this manner varied. For changing the cutting bit from cutting to sliding or inoperative position, it is only necessary to release the hoist line and the unopposed mo ment due to the drag line pull brings the bit out-of the ground. This action'is also assisted in'some degree by the moment due to the long lever bar itself. he connection 30 is necessarily above the cutting edge of the bit 25 and also well forward of the same so as to reduce to a minimum the clockwise moment about 25 due to the drag line pull.

The long lever on the side bars has a substantial portion thereof offset downwardly, as shown at 3st and in the inoperative position of the cutter these offsetportions bear against the ground and act as runners to facilitate the sliding of the bucket over the ground. The cutting bit in sliding position also facilitates the sliding movement without loss of material by smoothing rough surfaces and cutting off bumps that would catch some of the load or otherwise cause spilling. Supplementary runners in the form of angle pieces 35 may, if desired, be attached to the offset portion 34 of the side bars, and these pieces preferably have their forward ends of gradually decreased lateral extent, as clearly shown in Figure 3,-t prevent fouling.

The adjustment and regulation of the cutting bit is accomplished by this proper positioning, with respect to each other, of

relatively long lever the connections 28 and 30 and the pivotalv connection 23 so as to fully control the moments of forces acting about 23 as a center as set forth.

The oscillating frame is constrained to oscillate within certain limits which are defined by suitable stops which are preferably formed of the structure of the inturned ends of the cross bars 12 and 13, respectively. As shown in Figure 2 these ends are cut away at an angle to form upper and lower stops 36 and 37; resepectively. The lower stop 37 is positioned with respect to the frame so that when the side bars of the frame rest thereon the cutting. bit is elevated out of operative position, and the upper stop 86 is so positioned that when the side bars of the frame rest thereagainst the cutting bit will be in position to exert a maximum cutting action. A clamp bolt 38 is carried in a suitable opening 39 provided in a remote portion of one of the side plates and is adapted to cooperate with any one of a plurality of openings -10 arranged in upwardly extending series adjacent the rear of the bucket as shown in Figure 2. This clamp bolt may be used to clamp the oscillating frame in fixed position or it may be used to define an upper stop or limit of oscillation for the oscillat ing frame.

The capacity of the bucket may be reduced onethird when desired by releasing the fastening means 19 from the cross bar 13 disposing the back plate between the side plates with the inturned end resting upon the cross bar 14-, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and secured to the same and with the lower portion of the plate resting against the cross bar 12, as seen in Figure 8. Again, the capacity of the bucket may i e increased one-third by removing the back plate and the cross bars 12 and 13 and applying the complementary side and backplates l1 and 4-2, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. The'side plates of this complementary portion overlaps the side plates of the main portion and the holes 43 therein register with the holes of the main portion, and through these alined holes suitable fastening means 44: operate to secure the sections together.

' In addition to these capacity changes, the back plate having been released may be secured to the cross bar 15, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, with the lower portion of the plate still resting against the rear cross bar 12, as shown in Figure 9. With the back plate in this position the bucket becomes a grading or dressing device with the cutting bit cuttin off the irre ularities and the back plate spreading, the materal accumulated from the higher irregularities in the lower lVhen the bucket i to be converted into one adapted to general work the rectangular bottom piece -15 is secured in position by means of the fastening means 46, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4.

In this manner my bucket is adapted for universal use and is eflicient and effective in all phases of its operation. j

I claim:

1. In a bucket of the character described a pair of side plates each of which is in the form of a sector, a lower cross bar and a plurality of upper cross bars extending between said side plates and. having their ends down wardly bent and secured to the side plates for maintaining them in position, said upper cross bars being spaced from each other and inwardly bent to be secured to any line, the connection being arranged so that the line of pull of for connecting the long lever the drag line extends below the fulcrum of the lever, a cutting bit carried by said short lever arm intermediate the fulcrum and the connection, and means arm of the frame to the hoist line, runners formed on said frame on the opposite side of the fulcrum from said cutting bit whereby the position of the cutting bit and the runners may i the strain on the be controlled by varying the purposesset hoist line, all as and for forth.

4 2. ln bucket of the character described a pair of side plates each of which is in the form of a sector, a lower cross bar and a plurality of upper cross bars extending between said side plates and having their ends downwardly bent and secured to the side plates for maintaining them in position, said upper cross bars being spaced fromeach other and arranged at different distances from the ends of the bucket, a back plate having its lower portion adapted to rest against said lower cross bar and having its upper end inwardly bent to be secured to any one of said upper cross bars to vary the action and capacity of the bucket, a frame pivoted to said side plates'having a short lever arm and a long lever arm, means for connecting the short lever arm of the frame to the drag line, the connection being arranged-so that the line of pull of the drag line extends below the fulcrum of the lever, a cutting bit carried by said short lever arm intermediate the fulcrum and the connection, and means for connecting the long lever armof the frame to the hoist line, whereby'the position of the cutting bit may be controlled by varying the strain on the hoist line, all as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a bucket of the character described a pair of side plates, a lower cross bar and a plurality of upper cross bars extending between and secured to the side plates for maintaining them in position, said upper cross bar being spaced from each other and arranged at different distances from the ends of the bucket, a back plate having its lower portion adapted to rest against said lower cross bar and having its upper end. inwardly bent to bev secured to any one of said upper cross bars to vary the action and capacity of the bucket, a frame pivoted to saide tl liiaving short lever arm and .frame to the hoist frame pivoted to a long lever arm, means for connecting the short lever arm of the frame to the drag line, the connection being arranged sothat the line of pull of the drag line extends below the fulcrum of the lever, a cutting bit carried by said short lever arm intermediate the fulcrum and the connection, and means for connecting the long lever armof the line, whereby the position of the cutting bit may be controlled by varying the strain on the hoist line, all as and for the purposes set forth.

t. In a bucket of the character described, side plates, a lower cross bar and a plurality of upper Crossbars extending between said side plates for maintaining them in position, said upper cross bars being spaced from each other and arranged at different dis tances from the ends of the bucket, a back plate having its lower portion adapted to rest against said lower cross bar and its'upper portion adapted to be secured to any one of said upper cross bars to vary. the action and capacity of the bucket, an oscillating said side plates having a short lever arm connected to the drag line and a long lever arm connected to the hoistline, and a cutting bit carried by. the short lever arm. and a runner carried by the long lever arm whereby the position of said cutting bit and the runner may be controlled by varying the strain on the hoist line.

5. In a bucket of the character described, side plates, a lower cross bar and a plurality of upper cross bars extending between said side plates for maintaining .them in position, said upper cross bars being spaced from each other and arranged at different distances from the ends of the bucket, a back plate having its lower portion adapted to rest against said lower cross bar and its upper portion adapted to be secured to any one of said upper cross bars to vary the action and capacity of the bucket, an oscillat- .ing frame pivoted to said side plates having a short lever arm connected to the drag line and a long lever arm connected to the hoist line, and a cutting bit carried by the short lever arm whereby the position of said cutting bit may be controlled by varying thestrain on the hoist line;

6. In a bucket of the character described, side plates, a lower cross bar and a plurality of upper cross bars extending between said side plates for maintaining them in position, said upper cross bars being spaced from each other and arranged at different distances from the ends of the bucket, a

back plate having its lower portion adapted to rest against said. lower cross bar and its upper portion adapted to be secured to any one of said upper cross bars to vary the ac tion and capacity of the bucket, and a cutting bit pivotally mounted upon the side plate all as a d ter the pu pcsee s t ifertlt 7 In a bucket of the character described, side plates, a lower cross bar and a plurality of upper cross barsextending between said side plates for maintaining them in position, said upper cross bars being spaced from each other and arranged at different distances from the ends of the bucket, and a back plate having its lower portion adapted to rest against said lower cross bar and its upper portion adapted to be'secured to any one of said upper cross bars to vary the action and capacity of the bucket, all as and for the purposes set forth.

In a bucket of the character described, side plates, a plurality of upper cross bars extending between said side plates for maintaining them in position, said cross bars being spaced from each other and arranged at different distances from the ends of the bucket, and a back plate adapted to be secured to any one of said cross bars to vary the action and capacity of the bucket, all as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In a bucket of the character described, having side plates and a back plate and a lever frame pivotally connected to said side plates, short lever arms extending forwardly and downwardly from said pivot connections, long lever arms extending rearwardly from said pivot connections, said lever arms comprising portions of said frame, means for connecting said short lever arms to a drag line, so that the line of pull of the drag line extends below said pivot connections, and a cutting bit carried by the short lever arms and comprising the forward portion of said pivoted frame, and means for connecting the long lever arms of the frameto a hoist line, whereby the position of the cutting bit may be controlled by varying the strain on the hoist line, all as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a bucket of the character described, having side plates and a back plate and an oscillating frame pivotally connected to said side plates, short lever arms extending forwardly and downwardly from said pivot connections, long lever arms extending rearwardly from said pivot connections, said lever arms comprising portions of said frame, means for connecting said short lever arms to a drag line so that the line of pull of the drag line extends below the said pivot connections, a cutting bit carried by the short lever arms and comprising the forward portion of said pivoted frame, runners carried by the long lever arms, and means for connecting the long lever arms of the frame to a hoist line, whereby the position of the cutting bit and the runners may be controlled by varying the strain on the hoist line, all as and for the purpose set forth.

' 11. In a bucket of the character described, a bucket body, digging means arranged in advance of the bucket body and pivotally connected thereto, a drag line connection for said digging means arranged to exert an effective pulling force below the pivotal connection of the digging means to the bucket body and arranged at a short leverage distance from the pivotal connection, and a hoist line connection to the digging means arranged at a long leverage distance from the pivotal connection, whereby the position of the cutting bit may be controlled by varying the tension of the hoist line and-whereby the cutting bit may be swung down into full digging position by setting up a moderate tension of the hoist line.

12. In a bucket of the character described, a bucket body, a frame pivotally connected to the bucket body at the forward end thereof and adapted to freely partake of unrestrained pivotal motion with respect to said bucket body, said frame having a short lever arm extending forwardly of the bucket and adapted for connection with a drag line and a long lever arm extending rearwardly of the bucket and adapted for connection with a hoist line, and a cutting bit arranged in advance of the bucket and carried by the short lever arm intermediate the frame pivot and the drag line connection whereby the pivotal motion of the frame and consequently the position of the cutting bit may be controlled by varying the strain of the hoist line.

13, In a bucketof the character described, a bucket body, digging means, a pivotal connection between the digging means and the bucket body and a drag line connection to said digging means arranged to exert an effective pulling force below the pivotal connection of the digging means to the bucket body.

141-. In a bucket of the character described, a bucket body, a cutter pivotally connected to the bucket body, a short lever arm connected with the cutter and with the drag line, and a long lever arm connected with the cutter and directly connected with the hoist line.

15. In a bucket of the character described, a bucket body, a cutter pivotally connected to the body, a short lever arm connected with the cutter below the pivotal connection thereof with the body and adaptedfor connection with the drag line, and a long lever arm connected to the cutter and adapted for connection with the hoist line.

WILLIAM LOVE THOMPSON. 

